De Beers SA : Element Six wins Mining Magazine’s 2013 Award

Element Six wins Mining Magazine's 2013 Award for 3-D Percussive Diamond Inserts 29 January 2014 - Element Six, the global leader in synthetic diamond supermaterials, is delighted to have won the recently announced Mining Magazine's 2013 Exploration Award for its 3-D Percussive Diamond Inserts (PDI).

Element Six was selected from three finalists within the Award's Exploration category.
Element Six's 3-D PCD inserts can drill up to 10 times longer than is possible with conventional tungsten carbide inserts, and have been shown to be suitable for drilling in a variety of rock types from
sandstone to granite.
Launched in April 2013, the 3-D PDI uses proprietary polycrystalline diamond (PCD) technology to combine geometrical and material aspects to optimise the impact and wear resistance properties of the PCD dome. This technology was developed by Element Six's world class team of engineers and
materials scientists to deliver superior and reliable performance in aggressive formations under severe
application conditions, as well as significantly increase penetration rates.
Element Six's new 3-D PDI technology results in: improved drill bit lifetime up to 10 times; reduced costly rig downtime for service and maintenance; improved contractor profitability also from fuel savings and competitiveness; as well as increased project productivity.
Markus Scharting, Business Development Manager Mining, says: "We are delighted to have won this award. The 3-D PDI has the long term potential to change the mining industry's expectations for drilling penetration rates in underground and open cast mining, as well as in geothermal and water well
drilling. This is a great example of how our customers and end users are able to realise tangible benefits from our on-going innovations."
Element Six is one of the world's foremost producers of synthetic diamond mining tools and components, having been supplying the mining and tunnelling markets for over 15 years with innovative solutions. In designing the 3-D PDI, Element Six brought to bear over 50 years' experience of applying the unique properties of synthetic diamond into multiple advanced engineering applications.

Further information

For more information on the Percussive Diamond Inserts, please contact Markus Scharting, Business
Unit Manager, by telephone on [phone], email [e-mail]

ENDS

Notes to Editors: About Element Six

Element Sixis a synthetic diamond supermaterials company. Element Six is a member of the De Beers Group of Companies, its majority shareholder. Element Six designs, develops and produces synthetic diamond supermaterials, and operates worldwide with its head office registered in Luxembourg, and primary manufacturing facilities in U.S., China, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, South Africa and the U.K.

Element Six supermaterial solutions are used in applications such as cutting, grinding, drilling, shearing and polishing, while the extreme properties of synthetic diamond beyond hardness are already opening up new applications in a wide array of industries such as optics, water treatment, semiconductors and sensors.

Further company information - please contact:

Andrew Basham, Element Six Head of Communications

Email: [e-mail]: [phone]

IMAGES

Element Six's 3-D Percussive Diamond Inserts can drill up to 10 times longer than conventional tungsten carbide inserts.